Latest news with #Kirkwood
The Herald Scotland
4 hours ago
- Climate
- The Herald Scotland
I am a Scottish weather presenter - no wonder I love escape fantasies
Does anyone in Scotland really get through a day without mentioning the weather? 'I find all weather exciting, but you have to watch your language, because not everybody likes heat,' says BBC weather presenter Carol Kirkwood, who adores sunshine but understands why 30C can send us into a hot, bothered and tremendously sticky spin. For the vulnerable and elderly, heatwaves can even prove fatal. 'Don't be like, 'Oh, it's going to be a fabulous day,' just state the fact: 'It's going to be sunny and dry today. It's also going to be hot, temperatures getting up to 32 or 33 degree celsius…' Her tone at this point, so familiar to those that have watched her almost every day for the best part of 28 years, makes speaking to a weather presenter about the weather feel rather meta. Kirkwood has a new romance novel coming out (Image: free) Scottish meteorologist Kirkwood, 63, is not only on the frontline, reporting on increasingly volatile weather systems and climate change ('When I was growing up, there were four seasons, you had a definite winter, spring, summer and autumn. Now a lot of them tend to merge,'), she is also an ambassador for sheer escapism from such topics. '[Escapism is] always valuable because it takes you into another world, and you can leave your problems behind for as long as you're reading the book,' she says. 'There's so many things going on in the world, it's nice just to stick your nose in a book and forget about it for a time.' Hence her fifth novel, Meet Me at Sunset, a dramatic romance about a fashion designer called Camille Fontaine, who is 'running away from a shattered love affair' and whose secret-filled past is on the brink of overflowing into her present. More than your classic boy-meets-girl romp, Kirkwood says: 'I really hope you think at the end of it, 'I didn't see that coming'.' Her heroine is inspired by a woman Kirkwood spotted in a restaurant while on holiday in Majorca. 'She was a very elegant lady, she was French, sat upright, her back wasn't touching the seat. She had elegant outfits on. Her hair was in a chignon and she always had the same thing: a salad and a glass of white wine in one of these very delicate, fragile wine glasses. A puff of wind would knock it over and it would break,' she remembers reverently. 'She always looked out to sea and ate alone. I thought, 'Golly, why is somebody like this on her own? She's beautiful.'' The book is both an imagining of that woman's life and a chance for Kirkwood to run literary riot with some of her favourite topics: glamour, fashion and, of course, romance. One of eight children, Kirkwood's parents were hoteliers, and her adoration for glitz and glamour comes from watching Cary Grant, Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn films growing up. 'These are the movies my mum would watch and enjoy, and they were always so glamorous – and then you'd see Marilyn Monroe,' she says with an awed sigh. 'My idea of what Hollywood glamour is, and probably the reality of it, are two different things. But some of my characters live in amazing houses with swimming pools, they're in the sunshine and get into their open-top cars and off they go. Life isn't quite like that,' she accepts. 'I just think, to go into any store and be able to buy whatever you want, gosh, wouldn't that be nice?' Read more Most would agree that Kirkwood oozes glamour herself – and certainly did on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015 – but she's more self-deprecating. 'You might not think it to look at me on a daily basis, but I do love fashion,' she says with a light laugh, noting she can be hampered outfit-wise depending on what studio she's filming in. 'If I've got the green screen on and I wear a green dress with short sleeves, you would see the end of my arms, my hands and my head.' It can all end up a bit Andy Serkis/Gollum while you're eating your cornflakes if she's not careful. But you get the sense that Kirkwood is careful and sensible, while still finding the joy and pleasure in life. So she does 'try to look my best and stay healthy' but not because she's on the telly, 'but because I want to stay healthy. I got married not that long ago and I want to have a long life with my gorgeous husband, for as long as I can.' Kirkwood married Steve Randall, a police officer, in 2021. 'I am very happy and so lucky to have Steve. I wasn't looking for romance. He came into my life. We were friends before we became romantically involved, and that was nice. I got to know him as a friend, and he's so kind,' she says. So she's upped her protein intake and walks miles, often with Steve on the weekends, when they'll discuss books. This year she also decided to stop snacking. 'I don't know what it is, you sit down with a cup of tea and you think, 'I'll have a Twix'. Or in the evening, with a glass of wine, you think, 'I want some Pringles'. And now, I don't do that. If I have a cup of tea, I just have a cup of tea. And if we're having a glass of wine, I'll toast some pitta or chop up some carrots or red pepper and put out hummus and it's delish. What I have been missing all this time, stuffing my face with Pringles!' Meet Me at Sunset by Carol Kirkwood (Image: free) Steve (people like to make a fuss about the fact he's 14 years younger than her), she says, is 'very romantic and very generous. He's just a lovely man. I pinch myself. I'm punching, I'm really punching.' I tell her no way! And she says, clearly smiling on the end of the phone, 'He says he's punching!' Kirkwood's attitude towards romance is refreshingly cynicism-free, and yet, at the same time, thoroughly realistic. She is wonderfully invested in the whole concept, even though it comes with no guarantees. 'I love hearing about how people meet. I feel sad when relationships break down. I was married before (to property developer Jimmy Kirkwood, they split in 2008), and we got divorced, and it's always sad when that happens,' she muses. 'But of course, there isn't such a thing – I don't think – as a perfect romance, where you're never going to fall out or have cross words. Of course you are, that's life.' Despite all the heartache and the risk though, she is firm: 'We all need a bit of romance in our lives. I know it may not be the genre that's trendy at the moment, but it will always come back. I think there'll always be room in the world for romance.' Meet Me at Sunset by Carol Kirkwood is published in hardback by HarperCollins, priced £16.99 (ebook £8.99). Available now.
Fox Sports
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Colton Herta, Kyle Kirkwood 'Freaking Fast' in Toronto
INDYCAR Colton Herta is back on top of the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto. After settling for the 10th spot in Friday's time chart, the veteran NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver who won last year's race at Exhibition Place from the pole paced the morning practice today. SEE: Practice 2 Results Last year in this event, the driver of Andretti Global w/ Curb-Agajanian's No. 26 Gainbridge Honda led a 1-2 team finish with Kyle Kirkwood second. Today, Kirkwood was also second in the No. 27 Silver Gold Bull Honda. Herta's best lap time was 1 minute, .0578 seconds. Kirkwood's best was 1:00.1578. The two drivers are about a half-second faster than the next-best driver. Herta has been the top qualifier two of the past three years at this track. "These Andretti guys are freaking fast," Arrow McLaren's Pato O'Ward said after the session. Next on the schedule is NTT P1 Award qualifying at 2:30 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). The 90-lap race will be at noon ET (FOX, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). One of the session's objectives was to adjust to modifications to an area of the track approaching Turn 3. That's at the end of the long straight, and drivers reported a significant bump in the braking zone. There was work done overnight to improve the situation. Late in the session, Dale Coyne Racing rookie Jacob Abel hit the wall in Turn 6 and then crashed in Turn 7. Arrow McLaren team principal Tony Kanaan said the cars of O'Ward (No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet) and Christian Lundgaard (No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet) would undergo engine changes this evening in preparation for the race. Kanaan said Chevrolet had previously wanted to change the engines after the race but moved up its schedule. Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon (No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) leads active drivers with four victories at Exhibition Place. Team Penske's Will Power (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet) has three race wins here while teammate Josef Newgarden (No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet) has two. Lundgaard (2023) and Herta (2024) are the other previous Toronto race winners in this 27-car field. Last year's podium featured Herta, Kirkwood and Dixon. The winner has come from the pole each of the past two years and three times in the past four years. This is the fourth and final street race of the season. The last events on the calendar will be held on a pair of road courses (WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and Portland International Raceway) followed by two oval tracks (The Milwaukee Mile and Nashville Superspeedway). recommended Item 1 of 1
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
Track conditions at Exhibition Place presents tire challenge for IndyCar Series race
TORONTO - Even IndyCar Series drivers are annoyed with the road conditions in Toronto. Kyle Kirkwood of the United States had the fastest lap in the first practice round of the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto on Friday, completing the course around Exhibition Place in one minute 1.205 seconds. Kirkwood and Australia's Will Power, who was fastest in the all-car wave, both said that the section of the street course entering Turn 3 was particularly rough. 'Massive bump, new bump at the end of the straight and into three,' said Power, who won in Toronto in 2007, 2010 and 2016. 'Like, actually hurts. It's so bad. Right in the braking zone, boom.' Kirkwood agreed with Power during their post-practice news conference. 'They repaved something,' said Kirkwood, describing the stretch of Lake Shore Boulevard just east of Ontario Drive. 'That bridge used to go there, right? 'For some reason, they put a strip of pavement just in that section.' Power and Kirkwood were referring to a section of Lake Shore that is under construction as Ontario Place is torn down and replaced by Therme Spa and a waterpark. The redevelopment has received heavy criticism, including a report from Ontario's auditor general in December that said the submission process for the deal was not fair or transparent. Auditor general Shelley Spence also found that it will cost more for the government to build a new Ontario Science Centre at Ontario Place's old site than it would have to maintain the site it abruptly closed in 2024 in Toronto's northeast corner. Although Power and Kirkwood were presumably unaware of the controversy around the development, they were still very concerned about the resulting bump on Lake Shore, the westbound straightaway where their open-wheel cars build up most of their speed for the 11-turn, 2.874-kilometre course. 'I honestly think they need to grind it tonight, because it'll hurt racing,' said Power. 'Because you'll be very apprehensive to go up the inside. 'They should grind it.' Scott McLaughlin of New Zealand was second in 1:01.341 and Spain's Alex Palou, the IndyCar Series points leader, was third in 1:01.599. Power was fifth in 1:01.854 and reigning champion Colton Herta of the U.S. was 10th in 1:02.022. Toronto's Devlin DeFrancesco, the only Canadian entered in the IndyCar Series race, was 25th in 1:02.9283. IndyCar announced earlier in the day that Scott Dixon received a six-position starting grid penalty for an unapproved engine change following last week's race at Iowa Speedway. Dixon, from New Zealand, is a four-time champion in Toronto, second only to all-time great Michael Andretti's seven wins. Headlined by an IndyCar Series race on Sunday, there's a total of nine races from several series and a variety of automobile classes over the weekend. Kirkwood and Power noted that because there's no IndyCar Lights or other supporting series racing in Toronto this weekend there was less rubber on the road to help with their tires' grip on the bumpy and mixed surface. 'That's probably the lowest amount of grip I've driven in an IndyCar in a very long time,' said Kirkwood. 'We don't have any Lights that are usually running on Firestones and helping build up the grip. 'So we were sweeping, in a sense, for the rest of the session and then for the rest of the weekend.' Admission to Exhibition Place was free on Friday, although fans were encouraged to donate to Make-A-Wish Canada. Both Power and Kirkwood commented on how many spectators were in attendance. 'I was sitting there and I looked up and the grandstands were full,' said Power. 'I was really impressed. 'And the autograph session. How many people there? When we left, the line was massive. Good attendance so far, very good.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2025.
Business Insider
12-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Business Insider
I've lost 30 pounds and rely on these 11 products from Aldi to help me keep the weight off
Over the past year, I've lost 30 pounds and relied on some Aldi products to keep the weight off. I love snacking on things like cheese, blueberries, sliced turkey, and dill-pickle chips. Fresh ground turkey and rotisserie-style pulled chicken are my go-to sources of protein. After adopting a largely low-carb lifestyle last summer, I've lost 30 pounds. Early in the process, Aldi quickly became my go-to grocery store for stocking my refrigerator and pantry. From proteins to fresh fruits and vegetables, these are the 11 products that have been a mainstay and help me keep the weight off. The Kirkwood fresh ground turkey is my go-to source of protein. Fresh ground turkey is my favorite way to get my protein in because it's versatile and easy to cook quickly. My favorite way to prepare it is with taco seasoning. I use the meat to make taco salads with vegetables or enjoy it as a taco with a low-carb tortilla. Canned beans keep me satisfied throughout the day. Although legumes tend to be high in carbohydrates, I find that incorporating them into my diet makes me feel more satiated. The Dakota's Pride kidney beans from Aldi are my favorite because they taste great in my lunchtime salads. Riced cauliflower is my favorite versatile staple. Although I haven't always enjoyed riced cauliflower from other brands, the Season's Choice garlic and herb version is seriously good. My favorite ways to prepare it include using truffle oil for an Italian-style twist on risotto or pan-frying it for Asian-style fried rice with an egg, paleo teriyaki sauce, and a protein. I love snacking on Happy Farms cheese. I'm a big snacker, and my go-to pick is always cheese. The Happy Farms cheese blocks from Aldi are budget-friendly and inexpensive. I always grab a package of Aldi's rotisserie-style pulled chicken. Another of my favorite versatile protein sources is Aldi's rotisserie-style pulled chicken. I like to use it in salads or a low-carb tortilla to make a wrap. When I'm craving pizza, I also pair it with a tortilla to create an air-fried low-sugar barbecue flatbread. Blueberries are a versatile favorite. I'm not typically a huge fan of fruit, but I love berries. Luckily, I can always count on Aldi for great blueberries with a sweet and tart flavor profile. I like to have them in the morning as a breakfast side dish, or at night as a dessert with whipped cream. Aldi's spicy guacamole is very tasty. I'm a huge fan of dips and sauces, and Aldi's spicy guacamole is surprisingly tasty for a prepackaged option. I like to pair it with a turkey taco salad or scoop it out with cucumber chips. I like to pick up a three-pack of green peppers. The deli-sliced honey turkey breast makes the perfect snack. I find it easiest to stay on track with my eating habits when I keep easy-to-grab protein sources handy. Although I prefer hand-sliced turkey from the deli counter, the pre-sliced turkey from Aldi has become a staple in my house. I often snack on it during the day or when my protein intake is low. I use the Friendly Farms vanilla almond milk to make a shaken espresso. Fancy coffee drinks can quickly pack on the calories. So, I prefer to keep it simple and make an at-home variation of an iced shaken espresso. I typically use a double shot of espresso, the Friendly Farms unsweetened vanilla almond milk, and a sugar-free syrup. This delivers on flavor with fewer carbs and calories. I love snacking on dill-pickle chips.
Fox Sports
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Inside Line: Most Underrated Driver This Season?
INDYCAR Today's question: We're just past the halfway point of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, as there are seven races remaining on the 17-race schedule. Who is the most underrated driver in the series so far this season? Curt Cavin: I'm going to throw everyone for a loop and choose Kyle Kirkwood, and here's why: We have been so fascinated by Alex Palou's domination that we haven't considered that in any recent year we would be standing on chairs to applaud what Kirkwood has accomplished. He already has three race wins this season, which ties the most by any driver last year. The Andretti Global driver scored his third win of this season in the eighth race. Last year, it took 14 races for a driver to win three races, and Palou, the series champion, wasn't one of them. Two years ago, it took nine races for Palou to get his third of the year. In fact, other than Palou this year, no driver has won three races quicker since Scott Dixon won the first three of the 2020 season. Additionally, Kirkwood already has a short oval victory – last month at World Wide Technology Raceway -- making him one of the leading candidates to reach victory at least once this weekend in Iowa Speedway's doubleheader. Blame Palou for this overshadowing; Kirkwood has done his part to earn the spotlight. Eric Smith: Rinus VeeKay is the driver that comes to my mind. Dale Coyne Racing had no top-10 finishes all last season, but VeeKay, who was the 27th and final full-time driver signed for this year, has six this season, including three straight. He's 13th in the standings, 19 points shy of 10th, and has a top-10 finish on every discipline of track the series offers. He's my pick for an underrated driver. Arni Sribhen: Quite a few drivers, including some mentioned by my colleagues here, have had their moments in the spotlight this season, but Marcus Armstrong just consistently delivers strong results for Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb-Agajanian. In just his third NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, the 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Rookie of the Year sits a career-best eighth in the point standings. And while he has yet to finish better than fifth this season, Armstrong has scored top-10 finishes five times in the last six races. His only blemish since May is an 18th-place finish at the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, but even there, he overcame a crash in pre-qualifying practice to have a solid points day. There's a reason Chip Ganassi Racing signed the speedy Kiwi to a multiyear deal and kept him in the family through its technical partnership with Meyer Shank Racing. Armstrong is just a breakthrough result away from being considered a regular contender and leaving this conversation. Paul Kelly: Kyffin Simpson. Look, it's no secret that Simpson brought and continues to bring significant funding to Chip Ganassi Racing since he joined the team for his NTT INDYCAR SERIES debut in 2024. And Kyff Dawg didn't exactly smash the competition in INDY NXT by Firestone, where he produced no wins, one pole and two podium finishes over two seasons. His best finish last season as a rookie in the top series was 12th. But Cayman Islands resident Simpson has evolved into more than just a ride-buyer this season, as his progress is one of the best under-the-radar stories of 2025. He has four top-10 finishes this season, including three in his last four starts. He earned his first Firestone Fast Six appearance last weekend at Mid-Ohio, qualifying third. He was running third in the race on legitimate pace before being assessed a drive-through penalty for clipping the foot of Dale Coyne Racing crew member Nico Don while exiting a pit stop. In fact, after the race, winner Scott Dixon said he was surprised Simpson didn't round out a 1-2-3 finish for CGR. Here's the most telling stat about Simpson's improvement: He finished a fairly anonymous 21st in points last season. This year, he's up to 15th, ahead of Indianapolis 500 winners Marcus Ericsson and Josef Newgarden among full-timers in the series. recommended Item 1 of 2
